Mechanism for making and breaking electric circuits.



No. 729,482. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

H. B. WREN.

MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS APPLIOATION FILEDMAY 27. 1902.

N0 MODEL. a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 729,482. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

H. B. WREN. MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1902.

3 SHEETSS HEET 2,

N0 MODEL.

ma NORRIS 515.15 co, moYam'uu, wasnwonw, uv c No. 729,482. PATENTED MAY26, 1903.

'H. B. WREN. v MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1902 N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

u'vewfoz Qttoukeqd m: vcRms PETERS ca. mom-um UNITED, STATES;

Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT. OF

HARRY B. WREN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF OOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OFTHIRTEEN-FORTIETHS TO JOHN I. OASSEDY, OF FOREST GLEN, MARYLAND, ANDWALTER R. HENSEY AND M. LEROY GOUGH, CON- STITUTING FIRM OF HENSEY &

v GOUGrH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. r

MECHANISM'FOR MAKING ANDTBR'EAKING EILECTRYIIOCIRQUTITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters am No. mas aea May 26, 1903. l

Application filed May 27, 1902. Serial No. 109,195. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY B.WREN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain. newand useful Improvements in Mechanisms for Making and Breaking ElectricCircuits, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings- This invention has relation tomechanism for making and breaking electric circuits; and it consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafterdescribed.

The object of this invention is to provide a keyboard adapted to operatelevers and switches, whereby electric circuits are completed toelectrically-operated elements, such as signs, bells, machines, lights,etc. A mechanism is provided for cutting off the current and causing thevarious parts of the mechanism to assume their original or normalpositions.

The novelty of this invention resides principally in the mechanism forcompleting the electric circuits, said mechanism adapted to be operatedby a keyboard similar to that of a type-writing machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of theapparatus. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus. Fig.3 is a topplan view of a portion of the lever-revolving mechanism. Fig.etis a transverse sectional view of the lower portion of the apparatus.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the levers and a switch. Fig. 6is a series of sectional and end views of the lever and switch, showingthe various positions of these parts with relation to each other. Fig. 7is a perspective view of one of the switches and a portionof theannulusupon which the outer end of the said switch operates. Fig. 8 is adiagrammaticview showing method of forming the letter I-l on a monogram.

The apparatus consists of stationary uprights 1 1, mounted on a base 2.Arranged I within-the uprights 1 is a tier of annuli 3,

said annuli being also stationary and equal in number to the elements tobe operated. Upon each annulus 3 rests the outer end of a series ofswitches 4, the number of switches on each annulus being the same as thenumber of elements to be operated. The switches of the various annuliare arranged in perpendicular rows and pivoted at the points 5. Theinner ends of said switches are of a special construction, (hereinafterto be explained,) while the outer ends of said switches are adapted topass under and come in contact with the under surface of the leaves 6.(See Fig. '7.) The said leaves 6 being insulated by the material 7 fromthe annuli, one pole of the electric generator is connected to theannulus 3 at the point S,- while the opposite poleof the said generatorisconnected through the elements operated to each of the leaves 6 at thepoint 9. The switch l being of metallic material, when the outer end ofsaid switch 4 passes under the leaf 6 a circuit is completed fromannulus 3 through said switch to leaf 6. Adjacent to the outer end ofeach switch 4 is a stop 10, located-on the annulus 3, which limits themovementofthe switch in that'direction.

A series of switch-operating levers 11 are fulcrumed on the upright 12.The inner end of each lever 11 is provided with a ring 13,

which surrounds the perpendicular rods 14, the upper end of each saidrod being attached to a key-lever 15. Each of the perpendicular rods 14is provided with a series of lugs 16, which are adapted to pass underthe rings 13 of a series of levers 11, and thus when the rod 14 iselevated, the lugs thereof engaging the rings of a series of levers 11,the-said rings are elevated and the opposite ends of the said levers 11are depressed and caused to engage the ends of the switches at oppositethe said levers, and thusas the said levers revolve (as will behereinafter explained) the switches 4 are turned on their pivotal pointsand the outer ends of the same are carried under the leaves 6 and theelectric circuits to one of the elements to be operated are completed.

The mechanism for revolving the levers 11 consists of a perpendicularshaft 17, fixed at its lower end to the base 2, said shaft beingprovided with a loose pulley 18, around which a belt may pass. Thecog-wheel 10 is fixed to said pulley 18, and located below the saidcog-wheel is a stationary disk having at its edge the serrations 21,each serration having one edge extending substantially radially with thewheel 19 and a second edge extending at an angle to theradially-extending edge. The frame 22 is also fixed to the shaft 17 andthe upright 12 is also fixed to said frame. The catch 23 is pivoted tothe upright 12, said catch having an inwardly-extending rod 24, whichnormally abuts against the side of the lug 25, which in turn is attachedto the lever 26. The spring 27 is attached to said catch 23, said springhaving a tendency to force the lower end of said catch toward the centerof the apparatus. A dog 28 is located on said catch, and at intervalsthe said dog is adapted to engage the cogs of the wheel 19. The lowerend of the catch 23 is provided with a friction-roller 29, which isadapted to engage the serrated periphery of the disk 20. By referring toFig. 2 it will be seen that each rod 14 is provided with a lug whichpasses under the ring 13 of the lever 26. Thus at the operation of anykey the ring of the lever 26 is elevated, which lifts the lug 25, andthe spring'27 draws the lug 28 into engagement with the cogs of thewheel 19, as shown in detail in Fig. 3. The wheel 19 revolving in thedirection of the arrow, as shown in Fig. 3, the levers 11 are passedaround to the next set of switches. As this is done the roller 19,engaging the slanting edge of one of the serrations 1, carries the lugaway from and out of engagement with the cogs of the wheel 9, and thusin turn draws the rod 24 back to the position as shown in Fig. 2, andthe ring 13 of the lever 26 falls by gravity and the lug 25 passesbehind the end of the rod 24, and thus the parts are held in thisposition ready for the operation of another key.

The operation, as above described, may be repeated until the levers 11have described a circle, and consequently electric circuits have beencompleted to all of the elements to be operated. The operator then turnsthe crank 30, which is attached to the shaft carrying the gear-wheel 21,which meshes with the gear 32, which is located on the ring 33, saidring 33 having a series of upright bars 34, which pass by the sides ofthe switches 4, and thus as the bars are moved toward the switches theouter edge of said switches are moved simultaneously from under theleaves 6 and the circuits to all the elements are broken and the partsare in their normal positions.

Referring to Fig. 6, a shows the relative position of the end of theswitch 4 and the lever 11 before the said lever is made to descend inthe path of said switch. b shows the relative position of the switch andlever ends when the lever is made to descend in the path of the switchand engage the same. 0 shows the relative positions of the switch andlever ends when the lever end passes over the switch without operatingthe same.

It will be understood that by operating a particular key the current maybe sent to any predetermined series of elements, so as to produce bydirect or indirect means the desired end of differentiating the opticalappearance of said elements or predetermined series of elements, andthereby to produce graphically at will any desired letter, numeral, orcharacter in luminous or colored design, and also to produce audiblesignals and for operating electrically mechanisms of any character'at adistance far or near.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for making and breaking electric circuits consisting of aseries of terminals,

a series of switches for each series of terminals, said switchesadapted. to connect the terminals, a series of keyoperated leversadapted to operate simultaneously each series of switches successively.

2. A device for making and breaking electric circuits consisting of aseries of terminals, a series of switches for each series of terminalssaid switches adapted to connect the terminals, a series of key-operatedlevers adapted to operate simultaneously the switches of one series anda means for moving said levers to permit them to operate the remainingseries of switches.

3. A device for making and breaking electric circuits consisting of aseries of terminals, a series of switches for each series of terminals,said switches adapted to connect the terminals, a revolving series ofkey-operated levers adapted to operate each series of switchessuccessively.

4. A device for making and breaking electric circuits eonsistin g of aseries of terminals, a series of switches for each series of terminals,said switches adapted to connect and disconnect the terminals, 2.-series of key-operated levers adapted to operate each switchsuccessively and cause them to engage the terminals and a means forsimultaneously disengaging all of the switches from all of theterminals.

5. A device if or making and breaking electric circuits consisting of aseries of terminals, a series of switches for each series of terminals,said switches adapted to engage and disengage the terminals, a series ofkey-operated levers adapted to operate each series of switchessuccessively, a mechanism for changing the positions of the key-operatedIn testimony whereof I affix my signature levers, said mechanism adaptedto cause the in the presence of two Witnesses. levers to move from oneseries of switches to *I r N. another, when the levers are operated andI I B 5 permit the said levers to remain at rest when the key attachmentof the lever is not oper- 'Witnesses M. L. MILLARD,

ated. l A. E. STULL."

